How do you administer pilocarpine eye drops?

How do you administer pilocarpine eye drops?

Tilt your head back, look upward, and pull down the lower eyelid to make a pouch. Hold the dropper directly over your eye and place one drop into the pouch. Let go of the eyelid and gently close your eyes. Place one finger at the corner of your eye (near the nose) and apply gentle pressure for 1 to 2 minutes.

What medications interact with pilocarpine?

Pilocarpine may cause drugs with “drying” effects (some antihistamines, anticholinergics such as certain drugs for asthma, over-active bladder, and Parkinson’s) to work less well. Examples of affected drugs include chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, atropine, belladonna alkaloids, ipratropium, and tolterodine.

What are the contraindications of pilocarpine?

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Pilocarpine hydrochloride tablets are contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled asthma, known hypersensitivity to Pilocarpine, and when miosis is undesirable, e.g., in acute iritis and in narrow-angle (angle closure) glaucoma.

What is pilocarpine HCL ophthalmic solution used for?

What is pilocarpine ophthalmic? Pilocarpine ophthalmic (for the eyes) is used to treat glaucoma or ocular hypertension (high pressure inside the eye).

When do you administer pilocarpine eye drops?

Ophthalmic pilocarpine comes as a solution (liquid) to instill in the eyes and as an eye gel to apply to the eyes. The eye drops are usually instilled two to four times daily. The gel is usually applied once daily at bedtime.

How long does pilocarpine eye drops take to work?

Onset of miosis after topical administration of a 1% solution of pilocarpine hydrochloride or nitrate to the conjunctival sac occurs within 10-30 minutes, with maximal effect within 30 minutes. Miosis usually persists for 4-8 hours, rarely, up to 20 hours.

When is the best time to take pilocarpine?

Take your doses during (or straight after) a meal, and make sure you take your last dose of the day with your evening meal. If you are taking pilocarpine because you have Sjögren’s syndrome, the usual dose is one tablet four times daily. Take a tablet with each of your three main meals, and also one at bedtime.

When should you not use pilocarpine?

tell your doctor if you have asthma, acute iritis (uveitis; swelling and irritation inside the eye), or glaucoma (an eye disease). Your doctor may tell you not to take pilocarpine.

What are side effects of pilocarpine?

Pilocarpine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• sweating.
• nausea.
• runny nose.
• diarrhea.
• chills.
• flushing.
• frequent urination.
• dizziness.

How long does it take for pilocarpine eye drops to work?

What do you need to know about pilocarpine eye drops?

Pilocarpine Eye Drops Description Pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution, USP is a cholinergic agonist prepared as a sterile topical ophthalmic solution. The active ingredient is represented by the chemical structure: Established Name: pilocarpine hydrochloride, USP

How to take pilocarpine with no side effects?

Hold the dropper above the eye and squeeze a drop into this pocket. Close your eyes for 1 or 2 minutes. Use only the number of drops your doctor has prescribed. Wait at least 5 minutes before using any other eye medications your doctor has prescribed. Do not touch the tip of the eye dropper or place it directly on your eye.

How is pilocarpine used to treat angle closure glaucoma?

Miosis relieves appositional angle narrowing and closure, which lowers IOP in certain types of angle-closure glaucoma. Systemic exposure to pilocarpine was evaluated in 14 healthy subjects administered 2 drops of pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 4% to both eyes four times daily for eight days.

How does pilocarpine reduce intraocular pressure ( IOP )?

Outflow resistance is reduced, lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). Pilocarpine also produces miosis through contraction of the iris sphincter muscle. Miosis relieves appositional angle narrowing and closure, which lowers IOP in certain types of angle-closure glaucoma.